Indian Aviation
Jan-Feb 2009; Vol. XXIII
Law Enforcement, Civilian and Military Cameras
When Homeland Security is the highest priority, no shortcuts should be taken to find the ultimate system to meet the task. There are a myriad of systems on the market but not all of them can provide a comprehensive long range day / night observation and security package for so many homeland security applications. CONTROP Precision Technologies Ltd, a privately held company in Hod Hasharon Israel, has over 20 years of experience in providing complete homeland security and intruder detection systems to meet even the strictest requirements. The CONTROP systems are in daily operational use in military, law enforcement and civilian applications worldwide.
For coastal protection and surveillance, the SPIDER and the CEDAR systems are proven for security of coastlines from intruders by detecting swimmers, small boats and more. The systems provide a “virtual fence” over the water (sea) as they automatically detect intruders from the sea before they reach the defined boundary. The recognition, identification and tracking of intruders are key to protection and directing of security forces to the exact location. When it comes to coastline observation and monitoring, the CONTROP systems are unmatched in their success and have been proven to protect!
Surveillance Applications:
The CONTROP systems are also ideal for a variety of Seaport and Harbour Security and Protection applications including the monitoring of seaports, storage areas, container depots and more. In addition, these systems are proven in Port Safety and Port Management applications including safety of navigation, vessel safety, passenger safety, water taxi control and more.
For Airport Security and Protection as well as flight safety, ground taxi control and air control, the CONTROP systems also provide surveillance and observation – 24/7 - by day and by night – even in total darkness. They operate automatically, Scanning and Observing runways and other zones for unauthorized activities. Once the intruders are observed, the systems continue with identification and tracking of the intruders and direction of security forces. The CONTROP systems are currently in daily operational service by the Israel Defense Forces: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Navy and the Israeli Air Force. The SPIDER was approved as “the ideal operational intruder detection system” by the Israel MOD. These systems are in current operation providing airbase and coastal protection in a very large-scale surveillance and security program. The systems also operate in a large coastal surveillance and protection program in Southeast Asia. Last year these systems were chosen to provide protection for a number of major and strategic seaports in Western Europe, to the great satisfaction of its Operators and Customers. This was following strict testing and approval by the US Coast Guard. These systems are a major component in the protection of the important Gioia Taurro harbor in Italy, whereby their versatility is proven in applications as a "virtual fence" over the water (sea) and also as a land observation system. These systems are also used in many other projects in conjunction with coastal and other radar systems, AIS systems and other sensors, providing target identification when needed most. These are just a few of the many examples where the SPIDER and the CEDAR have been put to the challenge – and have surpassed all expectations for proven success in 24//7 homeland security and protection!
And now, CONTROP is launching the new FOX 1400mm TI Camera at Aero India 2009! This new product joins the FOX Family of Thermal Imaging Cameras – all of which are known and used in India and worldwide due to their unique continuous zoom lens as well as other unique features. This new FOX TI Camera has a 1400mm lens with x35 magnification with continuous zoom. This provides exceptionally long range target acquisition and observation, with unmatched superiority in the world of night vision! The new FOX 1400mm has already been supplied to several very satisfied customers as part of a long range observation system for coastal protection and surveillance!
The new FOX 1440 mm joins the well known FOX family of thermal imaging cameras which were supplied to Indian military customers – FOX 250, FOX 450, FOX 720, and which have several unique features setting them apart from other TI cameras on the market. Firstly, the continuous zoom lens. Whereas most thermal imagers have incremental zoom capabilities, with three fields of view and magnification levels, the FOX continuous zoom feature provides a smooth transition between fields of view for surveillance, target acquisition and then close-up identification of a target. In addition, the improved image algorithms enable a high quality image even when there is a “hot spot” in the picture (an explosion, a fire, etc). And now, the FOX TI Cameras are available in three different magnifications: x12.5, x22.5 and x36, allowing a flexible configuration suitable for any day and night vision requirement- be it for land-based homeland security programs, airborne surveillance and observation or maritime protection. Furthermore, the FOX cameras can be interfaced with most existing radar systems, AIS systems or other C4ISR programs, to provide maximum security where needed most. This small sized camera has a very lightweight configuration, and is available with or without an enclosure, so that it can be incorporated within an existing payload or as part of a stand-alone system. This most popular thermal camera is in operational use in India- with a proven success record, and is very popular in other parts of Asia, Europe, North America and other regions.
For decades, CONTROP has been a major supplier of quality surveillance systems for homeland security, protection and surveillance for military and para-military applications worldwide, including border control, coastal security, law enforcement and other homeland security programs.
A leader in day / night stabilized camera payloads, CONTROP is known for quality surveillance cameras on board UAVs, helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, aerostats, manned and unmanned maritime boats and ground vehicles. The CONTROP DSP-1 has several unique features setting it apart from other payloads on the market. The continuous FLIR zoom lens makes this payload so “user friendly” that once tried, the Operators don’t want to go back to the incremental FLIR zoom known in other payloads. In addition, the improved image algorithms enable a high quality image even in shady areas. And now, the DSP-1 is also available with an LRF Laser Range Finder.
The DSP-1 has been installed and flies on a variety of UAVs, helicopters and fixed wing airplanes. The DSP-1 has been installed on many different aircraft, including but not limited to the Mi-17, Eurocopter Panther AS565 and Puma helicopters. In addition, it has been installed on UAVs including the IAI Scout, Searcher and Aeronautics Aerostar, and fixed wing aircraft such as the CESSNA, as well. It has recently been flown on a small aerostat to the complete delight of CONTROP’s Customer- proving that this payload is not only superb in image quality, but lightweight enough to fly on a small balloon too! The applications for these systems include a wide variety of military as well as law enforcement and homeland security programs. The DSP-1 has a proven track record to the full satisfaction of all its customers, worldwide. This payload has been chosen on a number of international and domestic surveillance programs as the optimal payload to meet the surveillance requirements.
CONTROP Precision Technologies Ltd, is also a world leader in miniature stabilized camera payloads, and is proud to announce that the STAMP Stabilized Miniature Payloads - were recently selected as the chosen EO/IR payloads for one of the most important strategic mini UAV programs! The STAMP family of gyro-stabilized miniature payloads, includes the D-STAMP with a CCD camera for daylight applications and the newest breakthrough U-STAMP with an uncooled IR dual field-of-view camera for night-time applications. The CONTROP STAMP payloads were even chosen by the IMOD prior to the actual UAV tender, due to their unmatched high quality stabilized picture, providing every operator with an excellent video image and the maximum amount of detailed information from a very user-friendly easy to control system. These revolutionary new systems provide a striking look at the world we live in- from the view of a mini-UAV – up to 2000 feet overhead.
The STAMP payloads were designed to be carried by a miniature UAV, for tactical “Over-the-Hill” reconnaissance in daylight and/or at night. But don’t be mislead, there are a variety of other platforms on which these mini payloads can be put to good use as well, due to their mounting flexibility (horizontal or vertical up/down)- including but not limited to VTOLs, small manned aircraft, aerostats, tactical small observation balloons, manned/unmanned ground vehicles and even manned/unmanned maritime vehicles. From each of these platforms, the STAMP payloads provide a high quality and high-resolution image, unmatched by any other mini camera system.
The STAMP payloads have several unique characteristics, never before met in the small payload market: stabilization and pointing capability. Prior to now, the SUAV operators had to steer the entire aircraft to “point” at the target in order to get a complete picture of it. But even then, that picture was quite shaky and hard to put to good use. CONTROP challenged these issues and developed these first and only small-stabilized payload developed especially for SUAVs – the STAMP payloads, which provide a high quality gyro stabilized picture which is independent of the aircraft's maneuvers and vibrations.
The D-STAMP is a daylight stabilized miniature payload with three gimbals weighing from only 750 grams and the U-STAMP is an uncooled infrared camera with a dual field of view and a X4 continuous optical zoom lens, weighing a mere 1000 grams! These cameras are fully operational with proven performance in detecting targets with unsurpassed reliability.
CONTROP’s STAMP payloads are currently in use on a variety of SUAVs and other platforms worldwide- with tremendous success and full satisfaction from all Operators and Customers, hereby proving that the concept of a quality stabilized day and night mini payload is indeed achievable.
The requirements and expectations from an EO payload in the urban war scenario are very different from other war scenarios, and the CONTROP STAMP miniature payloads were designed to meet the challenge!
It’s no wonder that the CONTROP systems continue to be the chosen systems for the protection of some of the world's most important and challenging homeland security programs – be they air, land or sea.
